Day 42:

Juice: Grapefruit Tonic

Grapefruit Tonic:
3 Grapefurits
1 Teaspoon of Spirulina

I didn't really like this juice, it was too tart with only grapefruits. But Spirulina is a nice addition to any juice because it it full of good things: vitamins, minerals, carotenoids (More About Carotenoids), antioxidants and a healthy dose protein. I talked in depth about Spirulina WAY BACK in Entry 3, so feel free to check there for some more information.

Fasting Problems:

So, the rest of today's entry is actually more personal. It it about my 30 Day Juice Fast. This is something I started on February 25th  and I ran into some issues that proved very interesting.

For starters I decreased my coffee intake a week or so before the first day of the fast, to make my withdrawal symptoms a little easier to deal with. This was especially hard for me since I am a bonafide coffee addict - like 3-4cups a day, kinda gal. So, removing it was a big deal, but I had done it before for a week while on my first juice fast. It had been awful, but I made it.

I began my fast on Feb. 25th and the first day was fine. Everything felt normal, but my body was still dealing with food and caffeine from the day before.

Day two, however, I began to notice some gastric distress (mainly a lot of burbling and I was uncomfortable) during and after consuming a juice. I felt very bloated. Thinking this was just my body clearing out junk I continued.

Day three, I found the gastric distress increase, significantly. I couldn't even make it through an entire juice, it was too uncomfortable. I felt nauseous just looking at juice. Yuck!

So being a strong proponent of "listening to your body", I contacted my holistic practitioner in Vermont and laid out my problem. She said it sounded like a stomach lining issue. She informed me that coffee is very acidic and can severely damage the stomach lining - especially, when drunk in the amounts I was consuming - and that now without coffee, my stomach is probably trying to heal, but the juice might be too acidic as well or just too much nutrients for it to process easily.
Information on Stomach Lining: What do I need to know about my stomach lining?

My Practitioner asked me to reintroduce, just raw foods into my diet along with juice, to see if the fiber in the food would slow down the absorption rate. I consumed raw greens, vegetables and fruit, before drinking juice for a day to no avail. I was still quite uncomfortable and my stomach was very vocal.

My Practitioner, then asked me to try refined carbohydrates, which are easier for your body to process since they are processed and comprised of less sugars than complex carbohydrates. She recommended white bread, pita, crackers, etc... If these were hard to process, I was to put myself on a liquid diet, broths and water only.

The carbohydrates were fine. No pain or discomfort. Yay!

Next, she sugguested herbal tea - like ginger and peppermint, which warm the stomach - and yogurt (if I felt like it). Yogurt has acidophilus also known as intestinal fauna & flora or probiotics. Acidophilus is a term "used to describe a number of bacteria that help in human digestion... In addition to basic digestive assistance, it is thought to help bolster the immune system as a whole. It is also thought to provide some relief from intestinal problems." (Source)

I introduced yogurt the next day and it went well. I also had a pear, which went okay - a little grumbling.

Slowly, over the weekend I reintroduced complex carbs (rice, potatoes), fruits and eventually, raw vegetables, but to be honest, I was very far from craving or enjoying the vegetables. It was not appealing to me in any major way just yet, so I stuck to a lot of yogurt and carbs and some fruit.

After a few days of that, I craved greens and began to eat a much more normal - pre-juice fast diet. But, even now, I have a slight aversion to juice. I really don't want to drink any right now and my Practitioner suggested I wait until I feel that I want some. She also strongly cautioned me against coffee and said if I was going to return to it (which I am) that I keep the intake level low and give my body a break every now and again.

I have been off coffee now for three and a half weeks. My goal is a month, then I plan to really try to stick to one cup a day.

This was a very interesting learning experience for me, which highlighted, not just the dangers of excess amounts of anything and the importance of listening to your body, but also to seek out a well trained holistic nutritionist or practitioner, who can help you through any issues that might arise while fasting.

Comments? Questions?

Day 32:

Juice: Grapefruit Sharp

Grapefruit Sharp:
2 Grapefruits
1 Lemon
1 Lime

Okay, this juice was actually a bit too tart for me. I couldn't make it through the entire glass, but don't be discourage if you're not into tartness. As I said in my last post, and will probably say in many others, if you are afraid it will be too tart reduce the amount of grapefruit you are using and throw in an apple or maybe just half. It'll sweeten the whole thing right up!

Limes or Lime Tree. Citrus aurantifolia. A small tree found typically is tropical and subtropical areas which bears edible acid fruits. Typically found throughout the year, but the Lime season is May  through October.

Now, most all of us know that limes, being citrus, are a good source of Vitamin C.  Nearly 50% of you daily required Vitamin C intake can be found in one lime. I talked about Vitamin C in detail in Entry 9.  Most of us also know that citrus, especially limes, help prevent scurvy. - a disease resulting from a deficiency of Vitamin C. British sailors used limes in the 19th century to ward off scurvy and ended up with the nickname "Limeys". But recent studies in West Africa have shown that the inclusion of lime juice in a main meal of the day helps prevent against the contraction of cholera - an infection of the small intestine contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

New research has also shown that lemons and limes have incredible healing properties. Lime juice, specifically,  has been proven to have a positive impact on cell cycles - the series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication (replication). So, it is helping the cell decided whether it should divide (called mitosis) or die (called apoptosis). It also has show to improve the activities of immune cells called monocytes. White blood cells used in the immune system, monocytes "are made in the bone marrow, and they spread through the body in one to three days. They can develop into either dendritic cells or macrophages." (Source)

A human lymphocyte (pink) scans the surface of a dendritic cell (blue).

Dendritic cells "act as a communication vehicle between multiple key cells...and trigger immune response." (Source)

A macrophage (pale brown) interacts with Borrelia cells (blue), the spirochete bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Macrophages "eat foreign material in the body. These cells are involved in the primary or innate immune response to a number of immune invaders..." (Source).






So let's recap:
Not only does lime juice, help your body's healthy cells reproduce or the old, tired or unhealthy cells die; it helps your body identify a problem and, essentially, notify the national guard to deal with the problem.

Hello Lime Juice! Get to know me!

Emotional Lifestyle: 

The Oscar Nominations are out and it is all anyone in the media field can talk about, which I find weird because we all know Lincoln is going to sweep. I bet it is going to get best picture and best actor for sure. Zero Dark Thirty is really it's only contender, but Kathryn Bigelow won recently and for anyone who has ever followed The Oscars knows that they are all about dues and Bigelow got 'hers'  too recently. Silver Linings Playbook and Les Misérables might get a few things. Best animated feature is probably going to go to Wreck-It Ralph or Brave. Everyone liked Wreck-It Ralph better, but everyone also agrees that Brave is beautifully made. I haven't seen any of the nominated foreign films, but I am pretty surprised The Intouchables isn't on there. Big time snubbing. It was great.
But the Austrian film Amour is nominated for everything, so maybe that will win. Best Score might go to Skyfall or Lincoln. Original Song is probably going to Skyfall.
As for the rest of the categories, I'm not really sure...I guess I'll have to watch and see. 

Day 28: 

Juice: Cranapple

Cranapple:
3 Apples
1 Handful of Cranberries
1 Handful of Grapes

I have always been a fan of cranberry juice, usually plain, but I really like this juice. The tartness of the cranberries mixed with the multi-layered sweetness of the Apples and Grapes - delicious. This is also the first time I have juiced Cranberries and when I finished I looked up how to make homemade jam with the pulp. These are the great resources I found:

1. http://www.all-about-juicing.com/ (Fruit Sauce & Other Recipes)
2. http://www.ehow.com/ (Homemade Jam)

*If you try any of these, I'd love to hear about it.

The Cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, is one of the few crops native to New England (woot, woot!). Cranberries grow in acid bogs that lack a sufficient amount of nitrogen for most plant life. They are low, creeping plants that have - grower refer to them as vines - thin, wiry stems. Pollinated by bees, the cranberry flower appear mid-summer, they are white to light pink and bell-shaped.

According to UCLA's botany website:

"The common name cranberry is a modification of the colonial name 'crane berry,' because the drooping flower looked like the neck and head of the sand crane, which was often seen eating the fruits." (http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/)

 Now, Cranberries has always gotten a lot of good press. When one thinks of cranberries, usually one thinks of a high vitamin C content, a good portion of fiber and maybe it has been mentioned as being an anti-oxidant. Cranberry juice is also commonly known to treat Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). But, its complete phytonutrient package is what makes cranberries such an impressive and important fruit.

World's Healthiest Foods lists "5 key categories of health-supportive phytonutrients in cranberries" in the chart below: (Source)

Type of Phytonutrient	Specific Molecules
Phenolic Acids	hydroxybenzoic acids including vanillic acids; hydroxycinnamic acids inculding caffeic, coumaric, cinnamic, and ferulic acids
Proanthocyanidins	epicatechins
Anthocyanins	cyanidins, malvidins, and peonidins
Flavonoids	quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol
Triterpenoids	ursolic acid

Most of these phytonutrients have been studied independently for - mainly - anti-cancer, antioxidant and, anti-inflammatory properties (If you have been following my blog, we have talked about phenolic acids and flavonoids - btws). However, one of the main things researchers have discovered is that "...isolated phytonutrients in cranberry do not account for the same degree of health benefit as phytonutrients taken as a complete, synergistic group." (Source) The whole is more than the sum of its parts - if you will.

All of phytonutrients in cranberries have been shown to help protect against heart disease, cancer, gum disease, stomach ulcers, urinary tract infections and other diseases. A great resource for more information is the www.cranberryinstitute.org.

Day 26: 

Juice: Parsnapple

Parsnapple:
3 Apples
2 Parsnips
1 Pinch of Nutmeg


Yum! This is a perfect juice for the upcoming holidays! It seriously tastes like eggnog...well like the juice form of eggnog. It is smooth and creamy and the nutmeg gives it a little warmth.

The Parsnip. Pastinaca sativa.  Original to the Mediterranean and a relative of the carrot - could you tell? Parsnips, however, are known to be sweeter, especially when cooked. Fully matured parsnips have to be picked right after the first frost, so fall and winter is the season for parsnips.

Full of Vitamin C, many B-complex groups as well as vitamin K and vitamin E, Parsnips are also a great source of the mineral silicon, which promotes healthy bones. Parsnips are shown to help fight cancer by "nourishing the immune system, decrease inflammation in the body [anti-oxidants], and stimulate beneficial enzymes. They improve conditions of constipation and help to normalize high blood pressure." (Source)

Technical note for making this juice: You don't want to just sprinkle the nutmeg on top of the juice 'cause it'll get all caught up in the foam. Instead try either of these techniques: 

1. The book suggests: Pour some of the juice into a jar. Add nutmeg. Shake it up until fully mixed. Pour mix back into the juice. Stir. 
2. I did this: Juice an apple. Stop the juicer. Add nutmeg to the small amount of juice. Juice the rest of your ingredients. [See Pictures Below]

I just find the second easier and faster. Plus I don't have to wash a jar and my juicer.

Sweet and smooth, parsnips are a great juicing vegetable to have in your toolbox, especially once we get on to more vegetable juice, because it is always a great substitute for the carrot - trust me, you'll get sick of the carrot.

Day 24: 

Juice: Apple Lullaby

Apple Lullaby:
2 Apples
1/4 Lettuce
1/2 Lemon

This is the first time I have ever juiced lettuce. Spinach, Kale, sure. Lettuce...never. I used iceberg lettuce, because that's what I had on hand, but you can use whatever lettuce you like.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a member of the Aster or sunflower family Asteraceae.

Aster: any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs (Aster and closely related genera) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers. (http://www.merriam-webster.com)

 Lettuce was first cultivated in Egypt, there is evidence of its cultivation as early as 2680 BC. The Romans referred to lettuce as lactuca, due to the white substance excreted when the stems are cut now called latex. (lac meaning milk in Latin). Latex, specifically Lactucarium in lettuce, is the reason behind this juice's name. Merriam-Webster describes Lactucarium's effects as resembling "opium in physical properties and was formerly used as a sedative" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/lactucarium). So this should be the night time juice of choice. It also tastes like lemonade. Typically when I want to have juice lemonade I just do apples and lemon, but lettuce was a tasty new addition. I also might put less lemon in if I was going to eat it at night.

Emotional Lifestyle:

I try to be like this girl everyday...and after the hurricane I am trying to appreciate everything I have and how lucky I am to still have it.
Enjoy!!

Addition: "I LIKE THIS BLOG!"

Day 21:

Juice: Apple Tang

Apple Tang:
3 Apples
1 Grapefruit
1 Lime

I needed to cut down on the fruit for this juice because my glasses aren't big enough sometimes to hold all of the juice. The recipes are big. I normally cut back and apple, which is what I did today, but then the whole lime was too much. It was all a bit too bitter and sour for me.

 *Note: Oranges and Grapefruit and other citrus should be peeled (I use a paring knife) of their skin, but leave as much of the white pith as possible. It is a big percentage of the food value.  They also make the juice nice and frothy!


Grapefruits. Normally thought of as the diet breakfast food. But, they are ideal for juicing. As a member of the citrus family, Grapefruits carry a lot of the same stuff as their relatives: oranges, tangerines, etc... Typically big, juicier, Grapefruits are rich with flavonoids (our friendly plant pigment: See Day 11 for more detail), Vitamin A, B5, B6, and of course C. So, consuming a good amount of Grapefruits has many health benefits.

According to the USDA, one half a Grapefruit supplies 80% of an adults daily required intake of Vitamin C. Nice, right? Vitamin C helps boost and support the immune system, so flu season is a great time to hit the fruit isle for some Grapefruit.

Pink and Red Grapefruit (not white) contain lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient. "Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor activity. Among the common dietary carotenoids, lycopene has the highest capacity to help fight oxygen free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells.
Choosing to regularly eat lycopene-rich foods, such as pink grapefruit, and drink green tea may greatly reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests research published the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Jian L, Lee AH, et al." (Source)

High in antioxidants and soluble fiber, Grapefruits have been proved to lower cholesterol, prevent kidney stones, and may even help repair DNA. I don't know about you, but this ruby red fruit seems like a good person to have on your team in time of need.

Emotional Lifestyle:

The Walking Dead: A Female's Critique of a Sexist Show
 

DISCLAIMER: I apologize in advance if you are a die-hard Walking Dead fan. Also, please note I am not writing about the comics...I have never read the comic books, so I cannot critique them. This is a critique of the television show only. I am through season one and half of season two. 

The Walking Dead, an AMC original, is a show I have been trying desperately to like (much like Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, which aired on Fox [2009-2010]). Now, The Walking Dead is already infinitely better than The Dollhouse just by the casting:

Andrew Lincoln, caught my eye in Love Actually (2003) - yes, he was in Love Actually. Though his part was small and his storyline was stupid, I liked what he did with it. I researched him and discovered her was/is a fantastic actor. The BBC show Teachers (2001-2003) is hilarious and wonderful. There is also an array of other talented actors like Norman Reedus, known primarily for The Boondock Saints (1999), Jon Bernthal, who I noticed in the mini-series The Pacific (2010), and Jeffrey DeMunn, who I feel like I have watched my whole life. He's in everything! So, with a cast like this and a few bright new faces - most notably: Steven Yeun and Melissa McBride - how is this show sub-par?

As far as action, blood, guts, and gore The Walking Dead plays it well. I am a Zombie fan so, I generally enjoy the show. I am even willing to overlook the 'Walkers' (as the Zombies are called) many inconsistencies and contradictions (How are they rotting and outrunning our cast?). However, what I have a hard time watching is there horrible (would prefer to use a stronger, non-family friendly word there) female characters and character development. Why do all the women characters suck so hard?!?! I will reiterate, this is season one and half of season two I am referring to.

The guys, good and bad, are funny, fun, interesting and constantly kicking Walker ass, while the women are back in the camp - where they'll be safe, obviously, they left a few men behind to guard them. *Note the old man in the background. He gets to carry a gun.*

 

At the campsite, the ladies busy themselves with home-style chores - just 'cause the world's gone to hell, doesn't mean you can't have an orderly campsite.

Cooking the men dinner - because after a day of splitting Walker's heads and figuring out what's going on they'll be famished, of course.

Caring for the children - they're called maternal instincts not paternal instincts for a reason. 

 

 

And doing laundry:

Why do you think you have hands ladies? It sure ain't to carry a gun. That there is men's work. 

I don't think any of the women, with the exception of Andrea (the blonde one) even pick up a gun in season one. And I'm pretty sure Andrea only fires it once...to kill her own sister. She threatens to use it all the time, but it turns out she doesn't even know how to use it. Well, thank god the men are there when it really matters: 

 Shane beating up the abusive husband of one of the female characters.

The Guys got back just in time to save the women and children from the Walkers that wandered into camp. (Maybe if they'd left some guns with the girls they wouldn't have had to rush back)

**I love that in both pictures the women screaming and crying, helpless in the background.**

The women do nothing. Nothing! And they are the most annoying characters in the show. Not a brain in the bunch. They are always making hard situations worse and mucking everything up. The men constantly have to jump in and save them.

In Season two I think it actually gets worse. Spoilers Ahead.

Of course  the stupid little girl Sophia (daughter of the abused woman) gets herself lost in the woods when she can't follow the simple instructions given to her by the sheriff and leader of the pack Rick Grimes. I'd also love to not she is supposed to be the same age as Carl Grimes (son of the sheriff) and yet:

Do they look the same age to you? What eleven year old girl trots around with her Raggedy Ann Doll? If she had that, she'd probably have it safely hidden in her pillow case where no one would see it.

Shane (a police officer and best friend of the sheriff) starts to train these women to shoot, and yet they rarely do. Except Andrea, who clearly isn't ready to handle a gun when she almost kills a Daryl (a group member) when he is returning to camp. Thank god her aim sucked. The men then decided to take her gun away from her like a child (in a very weird scene with the older father-like figure), but the eleven year-old boy...he gets to have a gun. Well, that's just common sense.

But my favorite is when Lori Grimes (wife of Sheriff, who thought he was dead and couldn't stand being without the protection of a man even for a month, so she shacked up with his best friend - Shane) becomes pregnant and she's also not sure if she wants to have it. She keeps it a secret, but slowly news spreads around the camp. Practically every man gives her a little speech telling her she has to keep it for the future of mankind (dramatic much). However, when she decides to get rid of it and downs a handful of  morning after pills (as if it would abort it), but suddenly she has a change of heart (of course she does) and hucks them up. Her husband, The Sheriff, finds out he full on yells at her (and he never yells at her for anything...not even the affair she had with his best friend) for trying to loose it...apparently, an affair it's not as bad as a woman wanting/trying to have an abortion. The scene turns into a big cry-fest on her part and she pleads and sobs for forgiveness saying "I made a mistake." The scene feel like she was alcoholic who started drinking again, not a women who weigh the options (for the previous two episodes) and decided the best course of action for survival. Why is everyone telling this woman to have a kid in an apocalypse?! 

So, the show is sexist and pro-life apparently. 

Now, I am not asking for all of the females to be amazing gun slingers, just some equal representation. There wasn't a single women on the Atlanta police force with them who survived? Not a single women in the military made it anywhere? Can't we just have one character who can do something other than chores?

You know, maybe this should actually be a critique of AMC in general because now that I'm thinking about it...a lot of there shows have annoying/ stupid female characters.

• Mad Men is 'allowed' to be sexist under the guise of the 1960's. The 'strong' women are strong while glammed up in 1960's constricted clothing, make-up, hair dos and 'strong' by 1960's standards.
• Breaking Bad the wife sucks. She is one of the worst characters on the show. The other female character, her sister is neurotic, of course both have fantastic husbands with deep and rich character growth. The son is a wonderful character as well and well acted character. Pinkman, like Daryl in The Walking Dead (The Redneck Character), is portrayed as uneducated, immoral, and has questionable loyalties but written well - endearing himself to us as viewers.
• Hell On Wheels set in the 1860's so it is 'allowed' to be sexist, but there really aren't a lot of women characters. There is one main female character that I can think of. 

 Maybe AMC should consider hiring some new writers, because though the they are showing this:

A lot of women are seeing this:

For more about this topic consider reading:

1. ‘The Walking Dead’ and Gender: Why I’m Skeptical the Addition of BadassMichonne Will Change the TV Series’ Retro Sexism 
2.  What's Wrong With the Women of AMC?

Day 18: 

Juice: Double Apple

Double Apple:
2 Apples
1/3 Pineapple
1 Small Bunch of Mint


Oh, this is delicious!
Pineapple is my favorite fruit and I am big fan of mint in my juice, so.....this juice is bliss in a glass!
*Note: I wanted a little less juice, so I only used one apple.*

Pineapples are amazing and we'll have time to talk about them another day. But today I just want to go over how to cut one up. When I first started juicing, cutting up a pineapple seemed daunting. Having pretty much only eaten them out of a can or bought them pre-sliced from the store, I wasn't really sure what to do. Eventually, I sucked it up and bought one whole took it home and... googled 'How to cut up a pineapple'. Now, for all of you out there I have written up some instructions for you.

Step 1: 
Get a Pineapple, Cutting Board and a Big Ole Knife

Step 2: 
Cut off the top and the bottom of the pineapple.

Step 3:   
Shave the outside of the pineapple off with the knife. Since you are juicing it, don't worry about it being perfect. The juicer can handle a little bit of the rind. 

Note: 

If you are cutting the pineapple to eat, you will not want the core (the whitish part in the middle). So, you should cut the sides off around the core and cube it. However, for most juicers (even the cheap little ones) the core wont matter.

Step 4:

Slice it and cube it. Store it any way you'd like. 
Again don't worry about imperfections on the outside.

Day 17:

Juice: Pink Orchard Berry Buster

Pink Orchard Berry Buster:
3 Apples
2 Handfuls of Red Berries such as Raspberries or Strawberries

Closely related to Black Orchard Berry Buster (which we covered the other day - see 10/10/12 post), but they differ in color and taste, although both are equally yummy.

Raspberries, like blackberries (Post 10/7/12), are members of the rose family - Rubus. The Red Raspberry is the one being used for this juice, Rubus idaeus. 

In North American they are in season during the summer months, but luckily thanks to our advancements in shipping, you can usually get them year round. But we all know they taste best in the summer, usually in a pie or on ice cream.

Red raspberries, for such a small little fruit, carry an amazing amount and array or phytonutrients. They carry flavonoids (Post 10/4/12),  Vitamin B2 (which plays a key role in metabolic energy), Vitamin B3, C & A. As well as, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, and Iron. (List of Other Benefits)

These ruby red berries have been proven to support one's metabolism. New research suggests that raspberry phytonutrients may even be able to decrease risk of obesity as well as risk of fatty liver. Raspberries are also known  for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. So, consuming raspberries on a regular basis is highly recommended by the USDA...and me. 

Emotional Lifestyle: 

I think I'm addicted to the Food Network. Anyone else? I don't have television in my home and I cannot cook. If it has more than five ingredients and five steps, I'm out. I can't handle it. But, now being a nanny for a 10 month old - who naps twice a day - I have been turning on the TV and watching the Food Network...
...
...I love it. I sit there and act like I'm gonna cook the stuff - deep down I know that's not gonna happen - but I watch like I am 'thinking' about trying. Is it possible to get good at cooking purely by osmosis?

Day 14: 

Juice: Apple Pie

Apple Pie:
4 Apples
1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

*Note: It is hard to stir in cinnamon after the fact because it tends to get all clumpy. So, I poured the juice into a jar and shook the cinnamon into the juice. "Shaken. Not Stirred" 

*Also, this morning I wanted less juice, so I reduced the amount of apples. You are always allowed to do that.






I was incredibly excited for this juice. Okay I confess, I tend to sneak peaks at what lies ahead...I can't help it. Natalie Savona's book is just so beautiful and enticing. I kinda spend hours flipping through it. Eh heh.

This juice however grabbed my attention because of the cinnamon. I j'adore cinnamon! I put it in everything practically. I love it in coffee during the winter. I love it in almost all deserts and chocolates. I even douse my mashed up winter squash (mainly butternut) and sweet potatoes with it. But, I have not - until this morning that is - tried it in my juice.

Excitement.

Cinnamon has been highly regarded in many civilizations throughout history. As a spice, as a scent or perfume and as a medicinal. Cinnamon is native to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malabar Coast of India and Burma, but is now cultivated across the globe. 

The cinnamon tree is allowed to grow for two years before grower coppice the tree.  What is Coppicing? You may ask.

cop·pice
noun
- an area of woodland in which trees and shrubs are, or formally were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber.

Branches of the Cinnamon tree are then harvested. The tough outer bark is beaten off  and discarded. Only the thin inner bark is used. It is cut into meter long strips which curl as they dry. (Source)

As Cinnamon is a favorite spice of many (not just me) it has been widely studied over the years. It contains many essential oils which contain many active ingredients like: "cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol, plus a wide range of other volatile substances." (Source) These in ingredients help in many ways, helps with blood clotting, serves as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and new research is showing it helps to regulate blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin activities. I found a great article which researches cinnamon's many benefits for the purpose of helping those with Type 2 Diabetes. (From USDA)

So, not only is cinnamon amazing, but it is also comforting. It is known as a stomach warmer as well, much like ginger. I use cinnamon all year, but more so during this time of year - Fall and Winter. It just reminds me of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Emotional Lifestyle:

Watch this. Don't try this.

If this is your first time ever seeing GloZell, I highly recommend you catch up. The Willow Smith Video is good and the one she does about Westley Snipes. She is hilarious pretty much all of the time.

Day 10:

Juice: Apple Tropics

Apple Tropics:

3 Apples
1/2 Pineapple
1/2 Lime
1/2 Passion Fruit

Sweett, tangy and delicious! Yum. This is a new one for me and I think I'm in love. If only I could be in Aruba instead of in rainy New York. This is the first time I have used a passion fruit in a juice, so I was very excited. Don't be put off by the gelatinous seed filled insides, 'cause it's worth it. 

Passion fruits (or Passiflora edulis) are native to Southern Brazil through Paraguay to Northern Argentina. However, now they have migrated all over the world. It is in season in June, July and early August. So I had to hunt, but I managed to find some.

Passion fruits are known for their amazing aroma and flavor. But they also pack a nice nutritional punch. It is a good source for vitamin A & C and potassium. The seeds are also a good source for fiber. Passion fruit also provides an array of minerals: Iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus.
(More On Passion Fruit)

This juice is filled with photo-nutrients, vitamins and minerals, but most importantly it is Oh So Good!

Happy Juicing!

Emotional Lifestyle:

What is it about rainy days that makes people sleepy or cranky?
I was working today, giving tours, and man oh man were there some cranky, sleepy people on my tours. Most of my co-workers were one or the other or both. I was tired to and it was a short and easy day!
Is it the loss of the sun?
I know we get Vitamin D from the sun and Vitamin D helps regulate moods and makes us happy, but I can't imagine that less than 48 hours of exposure to Vitamin D creates such a deficiency that one will proceed to frown through and hour long tour. (And I'm funny...my jokes have been time tested).
I swear, I had a the sour faced old crown who invented the frown - truly. I have never seen anyone's lips head for the ground like this lady's. I know you can't ever be sure how they feel (blah, blah, blah) because even at the end of the tour she came up to me, pursed her lips (still frowning) and said: "very informative." Yeah, well maybe if you'd smiled or laughed it might have been enjoyable or dare I say fun.
But it is ultimately something to do with the weather, because I know it irked me more than usual today. Is is the grey color? Or the wetness? It was also humid today - really humid - like shoot me in the face humid - maybe that was part of it. Is it just people are cranky when they are uncomfortable?

Well, whatever it is, its annoying.

Day 7: 

Juice: Sweet 'n' Savoury

Sweet 'n' Savoury:

3 Apples
2 Sticks of Celery

Sweet and Salty, a famous combination. Celery is another food, like ginger, I cannot stand, mainly because of the strings. Yuck. But celery juice is one of the most refreshing juices you can make. It alone is wonderful, but I prefer it mixed with other wonderful things.

It has been hard for historians to ascertain when celery became a cultivated plant. Celery leaves were discovered in Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb (died 1323 BC), but it cannot be told weather it was cultivated or wild. Wild celery has been reference throughout history, mainly as a grass for grazing animals. But somewhere in there it started to be cultivated, not only for the stalks but also for the root of the plant - Celery Root. The big, knobby lookin' thing. The entire plant is and can be used for food, seasoning and medicinal purposes, but most people typically only use the stalks.

For celery juice, one should used the entire stalk, leave and all. The root can be a bit hard on the juicer (at least the cheaper one I have), so I say stick with the stalk. You wont regret it, because celery juice, even without the root, is incredibly nutritious. It is chock full of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin K, also known as the "clotting vitamin" because without it blood wouldn't clot. It has also been proven to help maintain strong and healthy bones, especially in older adults. (More on Vitamin K).

Celery is also rich in organic sodium, which is soluble, unlike any kind of processed salt. This helps your body absorb other nutrients and help you stay hydrated. (Source Material) This makes celery juice a great re-hydration drink, a healthier alternative to Gatorade. Celery Juice also helps fight cancer, lowers cholesterol, aids in digestion, is an anti-inflammatory, lowers blood pressure, prevent stones and many other ailments. Celery Juice is a powerful health tool to have in your back pocket.
(Great Article About Celery Juice).   

Day 6:  

Juice: Apple Blush

Apple Blush:

3 Apples
1 Nectarine
8 Strawberries

This is the first time I have made this juice and...wow. It was amazing. I made it first thing this morning before for I had to run and it was a wonderful pick me up! Fruity and smooth (due to the nectarine). Yum-zo!

Two new ingredients! What's a nerdy, nutrition obsessed girl to do! I choose Nectarine.

I never knew the difference between a Peach and a Nectarine until I researched for this blog post.
It is the fuzz and the coloring. Other than that they are pretty much the same. It is theorized that the Peach is formed from dominant genes, while the Nectarine is formed from recessive. (Document on Peach & Nectarine Genetics). It may not surprise you to learn that this fruit originated in China and were brought to America by European colonists. Imagine that.

Besides being the delicious cousins (I think more like sisters actually) of Peaches, Nectarines are rich in Beta-carotene (Definition), Vitamin C, and a bunch of other minerals. The consumption of Beta-carotene has been shown to decrease the risk of "asthma symptoms caused by exercise; to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts, and age related macular degeneration (AMD); and to treat AIDS, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, headache, heartburn, high blood pressure, infertility, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and skin disorders including psoriasis and vitiligo." (Source). I like that list.

So, adding beta-carotene rich fruits (Nectarine and Strawberries) to our photo-nurient full apple juice bumps the health benefits up, while providing a sweet morning treat.

Emotional Lifestyle:

So, I've never really been to a wedding. I went to my kindergarden teacher's wedding and one of my father's employees wedding. That has been it...in 25 years. People always complain about how much work it is and all that, but me I've just been waiting to go.

Today was my lucky day because one of my very favorite  people here in New York asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! I am excited!

I am mainly excited to see how real wedding work. I only know about weddings from movies and if they are true depictions than something disastrous is going to happen, the mother-in-laws will get into a fist fight, someone will interrupt the service confessing their undying love for either bride or groom, drunken friends will confess sleeping with either bride or groom, bride or groom with run off (probably to the airport to chase down their real true love) and rice will be thrown (though I know it is illegal in some states or counties).  I hope NONE of that happens.

So, I am looking forward to a long boring day of hairspray, happiness and celebration.
I'll let you know if it lives up to the hype.

Day 5:

Juice: Orchard Blend

Orchard Blend:

3 Apples
1 Pear

I love whenever pears are in a juice. It is just extra delicious! Not only in taste, but also in texture. When juiced, pears are frothy and creamy.

Pears are natives of China which have now migrated around the world. Like apples (and many other foods), Pears where brought to America by European colonist. These fruits come in all shapes and sizes and are full of phytonutrients (also called phytochemicals), especially vitamin C. A medium sized pear contains 10% of your daily need for vitamin C. They are also rich in fiber, which helps you feel full longer, so they are a good snack for a long day.

Pears skins have been proven to carry as much as "three to four times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh". So don't peel them, because that skin carries antioxidants, anti-inflammatory flavonoids (more on flavonoids). Studies have shown that pears can help decreased risk of several common chronic diseases that begin with chronic inflammation and excessive oxidative stress. These diseases include heart disease and type 2 diabetes. (More on the health benefits of Pears).

This juice is frothy, sweet and works at all times of the day.

Emotional Lifestyle:

I love British Television. Always have. My parents too, so maybe it is genetic. But this clips is from one of my favorite sketch shows: The Mitchell and Webb Look.

Day 4:

Juice: Basic With A Boost

Basic With A Boost:

3 Apples
2 Carrots
1/2 inch (1 cm) of Ginger Root
1 teaspoon of Spirulina

Combined all of the juices that have been done so far and a chunk-o-ginger and voila - Basic with a Boost! If you want to know about the health benefits of including Apples, Carrots, and Spirulina to you juices - please see previous posts.

Ginger, however, is our new friend on the block - an extremely versatile friend. Native to China, where it has been used as a cooking spice for at least 4,400 (but whose counting), Ginger is now cultivated and used throughout the world. Medicinally, ginger is used for all sort of ailments, from the common cold, stomach cramps and nausea to some types of cancer. Rich in volatile oils and phenolic compounds (aromatic compounds found in some essential oils; possess strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties and also act as nerve stimulants and immuno-stimulants) as well as, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract).

Now, I cannot stand ginger normally. I don't really like food spiced with ginger and I definitely do not like it dried or raw...however, in juices I usually can handle it. Now sometimes I'll put in less than is called for, but there's no crime in that.

For this juice, it is a peppy addition to the drink. It gives it some kick, heightens the flavor, but also has a soothing effect. So, peppy, but not too peppy.

Emotional Lifestyle:

I bought a new dress last week. Well, three new dresses actually. In a half an hour I dropped $90 on three new dresses, but it was needed. Now normally, I'm not a huge dress person. Every now and again - sure. Everyday at work all summer long - I'm not a fan. But here's the annoying part...ready for it...I give tours in a building built in the 1860's, therefore no air conditioning. You're thinking "Okay right, that makes sense," but the corporation I work for forbids women from wearing shorts (I am referring to suit shorts or some nice Bermudas, not soffe shorts or gym shorts). Nope. Men get to wear shorts. Women do not. But...I digress...
I bought these dress and I was into them. They were great fits for my body type. Then, since I stand all day and have Plantar Fasciitis, I went and bought some ComfortPlus black pumps from Payless. I had to buy the pumps over the mary-janes. For some reason I abhor mary-jane style shoes. I don't know why, but I think it happened somewhere in my youth. So, I bought these cute black pumps with a small heel. Great right?
Go to work. Lots of my co-workers are complementing me on my dress. Yay.
Give four tours. Lots of old ladies are complementing me on my shoes. Shit.

Day 3: 

Juice: Ocean Deep

Ocean Deep:

4 Apples
1 Teaspoon of Spirulina Powder

Oceans Deep is good ole Apple Juice with a boost of Spirulina, one of the worlds super-foods.

Spirulina has actually been reclassified as Arthrospira, but the colloquial term of Spirulina has remained. Regardless, Spirulina is a free-floating blue-green algae found in tropical and subtropical lakes with a high PH. It is believed that the Aztecs were using this wonderful little plant some 400 years ago. Why? Because it is chock full of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids (More About Carotenoids), antioxidants and a healthy dose protein. Nowadays, Spirulina is farmed is controled environments so we, the people, can enjoy the benefits all year long. *But PLEASE make sure you research the brands before you buy it.* Being an algae it is subject to the water it is grown in, so it can absorb heavy metals and toxins, which is no good. The opposite of what we want to do.

Being an algae, it has a deep greenish blue coloring which instantaneously make everything you add it to green as well, but don't be put off by the color because in a teaspoon you are getting: "B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid)". (More about the Health Benefits of Spirulina). Whoa, right? Basically it is an immune boosting cocktail.

So it should come as no surprise that mixing a spoonful of this little algae blended with the sweet (maybe tart, depending on the apples you use) can have immense nutritional benefits, helps you body detox the bad, great for your skin and...it's delicious. Especially on a dreary morning when you don't want to get outta bed. It'll give you the kick in the pants you need to take on the day.

Totally gung-ho about Spirulina? Check out this great paper I found about the Nutritional and
Therapeutic benefits: (It is a PDF).

Emotional Lifestyle:

Okay, so I have a crazy busy day today. You know, like leave the house at 8am and get back at 11+pm, depending on the trains of course. So, I am writing this all day at home this morning, at work, at a coffee shop and on a late night train...yay... 
But I find these days that hardest to eat healthy and fuel my body for the day. I have been trying to ween myself from 3+ cups of coffee to one and occasionally a second, so now it's even worse. However, this morning I am determined to be an adult about this and plan. I packed a lunch and every thing I could need throughout this day.

Thus my purse becomes my turtle shell. The house I carry on one shoulder.
 I had:
Work shoes: heels to wear for giving tours and sneakers for commuting (a true working girl).
Food: snack, lunch, snack dinner.
Phone: not an iphone - I have an LG Cosmos, so basically a 16 year-old's phone. The kind that slides into a keyboard. Yeah. That's right. It was free from Verizon. 
Drawstring bag: Deodorant, Lotion, roll-perfume (for those afternoon applications) and emergency vitamins, you know, essentials for anywhere you go.
Make-up bag: - Make-up (but to be honest I don't really used it), hair ties (used them for sure) and chapstick (I am addicted to Bert's Bees Chapstick!).
iPod & iPod Touch: Got an iPod Touch for my birthday, but it doesn't hold all my music, so I like to bring both just in case. Also, I was afraid the batter might fail on the iPod Touch.
Wallet: which it totally falling apart. In the metropolis that is NYC somehow I have not come across another wallet I like.
Sunglasses & case: because, obviously, my $5 dollar sunglasses from target could get crushed without a case.
Reading Glasses & Distance Glasses: Yep, I'm an old woman. Just call me Ethel.
Keys: For my house, obvi.
Gum: For my breath, obvi.

It was ridiculous...and heavy...and I saw about eight or nine other girls on my subway car with purses like mind, bursting at the seams with junk. And it struck me...1.) Planning sucks 2.) Did I actually need all of that? Did they need all of that? 
No.
I didn't need it, though, as you just read, I had a lovely excuse or reason for each item. So, this morning and most mornings I feel like I do. But maybe part of a "healthy lifestyle" - or at least a sane one without massive shoulder pain - is being able to let stuff go. I'm not trying to go all "leave the material world behind you" on you, but I think people may plan to much. I know it isn't nice to smell, but do I really need deodorant and perfume? Or heaven forbid my hands get dry and cracked...however will I survive a day with dry hands? A whole make-up kit, when chapstick is all I use from it.

I think tomorrow I'm gonna try and lighten the load.

Day 2: 

Juice: Apple Basic 

Apple Basic

3 Apples
2 Carrots

An classic. It is also known as Crapple Juice.
In New York City most corner stores that have "fresh juice" advertised in the window serve this. It is a great one to get on the go. Carrot and Apples a re cheap and easily accessible. This is a wonderful intro juice to the juicing world. It was, in fact, my very first juice.

Carrots are wonderful. You will usually find them as the base ingredient in most vegetable juices and in vegi-fruit crossovers.
Why?
Because they are a great texture for juicing and packed with vitamin fun! If you eat seasonally carrots are available locally in the summer and fall, but for the most part can be found all year round. Thought carrots come in a variety of colors, we usually think of them at orange. Carrots are rich with phyto-nutrients and antioxidants, mainly in the form of beta-carotene which helps your body protect cells from damage. Eating fruits and vegetables has been shown to lower one's risk of getting "some cancers and heart disease". It is also great for your skin, but if you eat too much your skin could actually turn a yellowish orange. It's harmless, but looks like you got a spray tan. For More on Beta-Carotene: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/beta-carotene 

So mixing this amazingly versicle and nutritious vegetable with the a powerhouse fruit, like an apple (feel free to check out yesterdays post about apples), would create a juice that would be great for your skin, detoxing out junk and perking you up. So, I guess the real question is: Why wouldn't you make it.
 For More on Carrots Health Benefits in general:http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=21

Emotional Lifestyle

I cleaned my apartment today. Phew.
I know everyone talks about the cathartic "Spring Cleaning" after the long winter, but I highly recommend a fall cleaning. Today was the first day cool enough without the horrid humidity we've been having all summer (humidity is the bane of my existence) and it was wonderful, magical even. I had forgotten what it was like to step outside and not become instantly clammy feeling my hair curling and frizzing upwards.
It was so great to fling open all the windows and let the fresh air. I feel like fresh air and sunlight keep one grounded and sane. Even if I had an awful day, if it's nice out I can think better. I mean I know chemically the Sun gives us Vitamin D which helps with moods, so I suppose that's true for most people.
Fall is my favorite season. The weather is nice. Not too hot, not too cold. The colors are wonderful. Not just the leaves, but also the sunlight as the days start to get shorter. But, honestly...it's the time for zip-ups. I LOVE zip-up coats. The thinner fall jackets, hoodies, sweaters, whatever...if it has a zipper on the front hood or no hood, I'll love it. (Though in a perfect world it has a hood with drawstrings). Zip-ups are amazing, because you can control the temperature, right?
Too hot - unzip
Too cold - zip up
Not sure - middle zip (looks stylish too)
Really cold - zip up, hood on cinch it tight.
Really hot - take it off (and if you're into the 1990's/ Tourist look tie that puppy round your waist).

Ah. Fall.